Four Australians recognised for services to ECEC and children in Australia Day 2025 Honours List 

The Australia Day Honours List 2025 has been released, with four recipients recognised for their contribution to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, or for services to children more broadly.

The Sector extends a warm congratulations to each recipient, acknowledging their service to children and the ECEC community at large. 

Mrs Brooke Melissa Wardana for service to early childhood education

Brooke Wardana is a teacher based in Western Australia with an extensive track record of working in early childhood settings across various communities in different roles. 

Mrs Wardana is currently, amongst other things, the lead teacher for early childhood education at the Kimberley Schools Project and a key member of the Shaping Minds – Education Consultancy. 

Mrs Wardana has been awarded the Medal of the Order (OAM).

Ms Jantiena Anne Batt for outstanding public service in improving access and equity in education in the ACT

Jantiena Batt’s contribution to early childhood education has included, amongst other activities, the management of territory-wide early childhood education projects for children experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage and for playing a central role in the development of Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT. 

In addition, Ms Batt has been a certified assessor supporting the ACT Teacher Quality Institute’s Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher Certification process, a national process that recognises quality teaching. 

Ms Batt has been awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) ACT.

Ms Catrina Luz Aniere for service to children and youth, and to environmental education

Catrina Aniere has a long history of working with and empowering young children. In 1996 she co-founded Millennium Kids, a children led advocacy group that focuses on tackling the “big issues” facing our communities today.  

Ms Aniere is also a teacher, published author and recipient of multiple awards. 

Ms Aniere has been awarded the Order of Australia (OAM).

Dr Robyn Maree Miller for significant service to children, young people and families

Dr. Robyn Miller is a social worker who has worked in the community sector, local government and child protection and at the Bouverie Centre, Victoria’s Family Institute at La Trobe University, as a senior clinician and consultant across a career spanning thirty years. 

She has been Chief Executive Officer of MacKillop Family Services since 2016 before which she was actively involved in a number of different roles in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. 

Dr Miller has been awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

To review the full list of Australia Day 2025 Honours list please click here.